what's closed the day after new year's

Many people enjoy a day off from work on New Year’s Day, which makes it perfect for running errands and shopping – but only if you know what’s open. Since New Year’s Day is a federal holiday, many businesses choose to close. However, this isn’t universal, which makes figuring out what’s open on New Years incredibly confusing.

What’s Open on New Years

Here’s what’s open and what’s closed on New Years this year.

Large Retail Stores

Large retail stores are typically open. The majority of large retailers are open on New Year’s Day, though there are a few exceptions. For example, Costco and Sam’s Club close for the holiday, but Walmart and Target are open.

Small Retail Businesses

Small retail businesses may not be open. Independent retailers may choose to close on New Year’s Day, though some may open on the holiday, especially if they are in a busy shopping district. If you want to head to a particular store, it’s best to call in advance and confirm whether they will open.

Drug Stores and Pharmacies

Drug stores are open, but pharmacy counters may or may not be open. Stores like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens will open on New Year’s Day. Small, independent drug stores might not open, so you may want to call ahead before heading over.

Additionally, pharmacy counters may or may not be open, including those in major retailers. If you need to pick up a prescription, call ahead to check and see if that service will be available.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores are open. Most large grocery store chains, like Safeway and Publix, are open, though they may have reduced hours. Additionally, there are a few exceptions. For example, Aldi closes on New Year’s Day.

If you plan to head to the grocery store, you may want to call ahead to confirm the store’s hours.

Restaurants

Chain restaurants are open, but small independent restaurants may close. The vast majority of large chain restaurants open on New Year’s Day. However, small independent restaurants may or may not be open, so you may want to call ahead before heading there to confirm they are seating diners.

Gas Stations

Gas stations are open. Most chain gas stations are open on New Year’s Day. In cases where the convenience store is closed, or there is no attendant available, you can always pay at the pump if you need gas as that service is available 24/7/365.

Banks and Credit Unions

Banks and credit unions are closed. On New Year’s Day, nearly all financial institutions are not open.

You can still access ATMs in unsecured areas, like outside of banks or in drive-thru lanes, and bank online. However, some transactions, like deposits or bank-to-bank transfers, will not start to process until January 2, 2019, the first business day after the holiday.

U.S. Stock Markets

The U.S. stock markets are closed. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ close for New Year’s Day. The bond market, or SIMFA, is also not open.

Public Libraries

Public libraries are closed. Libraries commonly close on major federal holidays. However, you may be able to drop off books if the library has a slot or other point of collection that you can access from outside of the building.

Public and Private Schools

Public and private schools are closed. K-12 schools, as well as college and universities, are usually closed on New Year’s Day as part of their winter break. However, for schools where students live on-site, some services may be available, such as cafeterias.

Garbage Services

Garbage service may or may not be available. Some garbage companies reschedule pickups that fall on holidays while others maintain their regular schedule every day, even on New Year’s Day. You may need to contact your service provider to confirm whether your day has been changed if you usually have a pick up on Tuesdays.

Landfills or dumps are typically closed on federal holidays if they are run by the city or county. Those workers qualify as local government employees, so many of those facilities close. However, if you have a privately run landfill in your area, they may or may not close. You should call ahead if you want to drop off garbage on New Year’s Day to confirm they are open.

Federal Government Offices

Federal government offices are closed. On New Year’s Day, federal government agencies close to recognize the holiday, allowing all non-essential personnel to spend the day off work. However, public safety organizations and essential employees, such as law enforcement officers, will be on duty.

State and Local Government Offices

State and local government offices are closed. State and local governments predominately follow the same holiday schedule as the federal government, so they close for New Year’s Day. The only exceptions tend to revolve around public safety. For example, police departments and fire departments operate 24/7/365.

Mail Services

Mail services are closed on New Year’s Day. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a federal agency, so they do not operate on federal holidays. Additionally, UPS and FedEx also mainly close. The only exceptions are UPS Holiday and UPS Express Critical deliveries, as well as FedEx Custom Critical deliveries.

Do you plan on shopping on New Year’s Day? Share your plans in the comments below.